Detachable toe stop for roller skate construction



Nov, 10, 1964 G. K. WARE 3,156,482

DETACHABLE TOE STOP FOR ROLLER SKATE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 13, 1962 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,156,482 DETACHABLE TOE STOP FOR RQLLER SKATE CONSTRUCTION Gordon K. Ware, Chicago, Ill, assignor to The Chicago Roller Skate Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 187,404 4 Claims. (Cl. 28011.2)

The present invention relates to roller skates and is particularly concerned with an improved sole plate including a novel mounting arrangement for a brake element or toe stop.

The roller skates used by the more accomplished skaters frequently employ brake members, usually termed toe stops, to afford a high degree of control for figure skating and dancing. Being positioned on the skate below and forwardly of the skaters toe, the body of the stop through frequent use wears away, thus increasing the distance between the skating surface and the stop. Accordingly, this requires the skater to rise up higher or pivot forwardly to a greater degree to bring the stop into operative engagement with the skating surface. Undesirably, the degree of skating control required for facile use of the top stop is increased when the stop is in a worn condition. One result is that the ease and grace which the skater may otherwise have readily displayed in his movements is materially reduced and the aesthetic quality of the figure or dance pattern is debilitated. Thus, without a provision on the skate for selective adjustment of the position of the toe stop certain skaters were thereby handicapped.

In certain of the prior toe stop mounting arrangements, the desired adjustments were attended with awkwardness. More particularly, the removal of the skate from the wearers foot and the use of several hand tools, were both necessary steps. When the brake element had retained its mounted position for a prolonged period, certain of the mated metal parts were found to have seized. These parts could be moved relative to one another only with difiiculty.

Well known in the art is that the more experienced skaters and the figure skaters apply a great deal of strain upon the skates. It has been found that a reinforcing plate interposed between the skaters shoe and the sole plate of the skate materially reduced the deflection in the skate under the vigorous conditions which the skate encountered in dancing and in other skating maneuvers. Another strengthening arrangement included a brace extending between the wheel truck and the sole plate. This construction provided a truss affording sulbstantial strength to the skate body. In these constructions it may be observed that the number of component parts of the skate were in no way. reduced but were increased to achieve the strengthening result. Obviously, in certain instances the assembly cost of the individual skate became correspondingly greater.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a broad object of this invention to provide an improved roller skate construction characterized by an integral sole plate and bracket structure including a novel toe stop mounting which greatly facilitates adjustment of the stop.

Another object is to provide a roller skate construction of the type above described in which the toe stop may be fixedly secured in selected predetermined positions to compensate for erosion or Wearings of the body of the stop from repeated use.

Still another object is to provide a skate construction of the type described wherein the position of the toe stop relative to the skating surface may be adjusted with ease by the use of a single common tool without the necessity of removing theskate'from the skaters foot.

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Yet another object is to provide in a roller skate construction of the foregoing type a provision for the toe stop attachment characterized by an improved arrangement adapted to overcome the tendency of the mating parts to seize.

Still another object is to provide a skate construction of the type described wherein the sole plate of itself possesses a high degree of strength for withstanding the forces encountered by the skate during the performance of acrobatic or dancing figures and the like skating movements.

In view of the latter object, it is still another object to provide a sole plate which is plain in design, and is so constructed as to :be unobtrusively arranged below the skaters shoe thereby to measureably improve the appearance of roller skates for dancers.

A further object is to provide an improved roller skate construction which is economical to manufacture, and which is adapted to Withstand vigorous use over a long service life.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the elements of the roller skate whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a roller skate construction made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan View of the roller skate shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the sole plate construction made in accordance with the present invention.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing there is shown a roller skate generally designated 10 and made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention. The roller skate it) includes a sole plate 12 which is supported with respect to a skating surface 14 by a front roller truck assembly 16 and a rear roller truck assembly 18, the front end of the sole plate 12 carrying an adjustablv mounted toe stop 20. a

The skate in is of the type adapted to be permanently secured to the sole of a skaters shoe whereby the skate and shoe combination are securely held together in a predetermined relationship. In this invention the important instrurnentality which affords mounting provisions. for the shoe to the skate as well as the rollers to the body of the skate is the sole plate 12, shown best in FIG. 5. Being of generally narrow lateral extent, the sole plate 12 is a longitudinally extending element having a front bracket portion 22 interjoined to a rear bracket portion 24- by central beam 26. To afford attachment means on the sole plate 12 to receive the skaters shoe, laterally extending platforms are presented on opposite sides of each bracket portion 22, 24. The forward platforms designated 28 are shown clearly in FIG. 2 and are disposed flush with the top surface. of the sole plate 12. Each platform or wing element 28 is provided with an aperture 3% adapted to receive a fastener for attachment to the sole of the skaters shoe. v

At the rear bracket portion 24 the platforms 32 are presented flush with the top surface of the sole plate 12,

whereby to engage the heel of the skaters shoe, an aperture 34 in each platform 32 being adapted to receiv a fastener to secure the heel to the sole plate 12. It is to be understood that the platforms 2 8, 32, being the widest portions of the sole plate 12 and being disposed at the upper part thereof, the sole plate 12 will repose beneath the sole of the shoe in a manner which is substantially unobtrusive when viewed from the side. This is desirable in that the plain appearance of the skate thus obtained enhances the effect that there is but a minimum of mass or matter separating the skaters foot from the skating surface 14.

The front 16 and rear 18 wheel trucks are similar in construction and arrangement and for this reason the detailed description of the component parts thereof will be limited to that of the front truck 16, clearly shown in FIG. 3. The rollers 36, only one being shown in FIG. 3, are operatively disposed on a laterally extending axle 33 which is supported by an axle carrier 40. The axle carrier 40 includes a rearwardly extending tongue element 42 having a central aperture 44 extending therethrough. An action screw 46 is received through aperture 44, the screw to carrying a pair of cushioning elements 48 which embrace opposite surfaces of the tongue 42, the yieldable elements 48 being received in recesses thereon. A cup 56 restrains expansive movements of the respectively engaged cushioning elements 48 thereby confining the elastomeric tendencies of the cushion 48 to a predetermined direction. A lock nut 52 threadably engaged on the action screw 46 is provided with a cavity complementary to a frusto-conically shaped boss 54 protruding outwardly from the front bracket portion 22 of the sole plate 12. Surrounding the boss 54 is a planar surface or land 56, shown best in FIG. 5, which affords an arrestment surface for the lock nut 52. The upper end of the action screw 46 is threadedly received within an inclined aperture 58 in the front bracket portion 22.

Thus it will be seen that the cooperation of the cushioning elements 4-8 with the axle carrier 40 affords a measure of insulation of the sole plate 12 from shocks transmitted from the skating surface 14. Cooperating with the cushioning elements 43, a strut arm 6'3 is mounted in the axle carrier 40 forwardly of the axle 38. The strut arm 6d includes a hemispherical free end received in a complementary cavity in the front bracket portion 22, best shown in FIG. 3. The inner end of the strut arm at is threadedly received within the axle carrier 44 and is fiiredly held therein by means of a lock nut 64 and washer Where in prior roller skate constructions a separate bracket part was commonly employed to effect attachmerit of the roller supporting means to the sole plate 12, th s invention envisions that such a bracket member be eliminated and in its stead that the attachment provisions cooperate directly with the sole plate 12. This function will obtain on the rear trucks 13 as well as with respect to the front trucks 16 as above described.

The narrow central beam 26 interconnecting the front 22 and rear 24 bracket portions is compactly arranged about the center line of the skate l2 and possesses a lateral cross sectional modulus of a magnitude sufiicient to resist any forces which may be encountered during the service life of the skate 10. Where the sole plate 12 is formed of light metals such as aluminum alloys it has been found that the ratio of the Width of the beam 12 to its depth may be in the range of 2:1.

The toe stop 2% includes a body 7% of an elastomeric material preferably of rubber or the like. An attachment member or pintle 'i2 having an enlarged head 74 buried within the body is threadedly received within a complementary aperture 76 in the front bracket portion 22, shown best in FIG. 4. The periphery of the aperture '76 is defined by a cut-out or recessed element of the main body of the bracket portion 22 and by a clamping member '78 removably secured to the bracket portion 2 2. A pair of cap screws 8% disposed in complementary holes in the members '73 and 22 provide for adjustability and ready reinovability of the pintle or attachment member 72 of the toe stop 29. More particularly, it is to be seen that that portion of the aperture 76 in the member 22 subtends an angle greater than 180 degrees. Correspondingly, the portion of the aperture 76 defined by the clamping member 78 is of a lesser included angle. Thus, when the clamping member 78 is disengaged from the attachment member 72 the toe stop 2i) may be retrogressively rotated from the front bracket portion 22. When a predetermined position of the toe stop 20 has been se.ected, the attachment or clamping member 78 is urged into engagement with the pintle 72 whereby to securely hold the toe stop 26 with respect to the sole plate 32.

An upwardly sloping abutment surface 82 is defined on the lower portion of the bracket portion 22 and the clamping member 78, shown best in FIG. 5. The surface 82 is adapted to engage the complementary surface of the rubber like body 7% of the toe stop 20.

The provision of the toe stop attachment as an integral portion of the sole plate 12 insures a firm and solid support for the toe stop 29 while at the same time permitting the attachment means to be projected sufiicicntly forwardly and downwardly with respect to the sole plate 12 and the shoe supported thereby so as to facilitate proper use. The arrangement thus provided for the toe stop 20 and the locking means therefore insures a rigid structure with a minimum of size and weight in the component parts.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the ture spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A roller skate structure comprising: a sole plate adapted to be secured to a skaters shoe; a plurality of rollers carried by said sole plate; a brake member arranged forwardly of said sole plate and including an elastomeric ground engaging body portion and an elongated, threaded attachment element extending outwardly therefrom; means on said sole plate to support said brake member for selective adjustment with respect to said sole plate, said means defining an internally threaded bore adapted to receive threadedly said attachment element therein; said means including a releasable clamping portron carrying a radial segment of the axial extent of the threaded sidewall of said bore; and means straddling said bore for advancing said releasable clamping portion into engagement with said attachment element to grippingly resist dismounting of said brake member.

2. A roller skate structure comprising: a sole plate adapted to be secured to a skaters shoe; a plurality of rollers carried by said sole plate; a brake member arranged forwardly of said sole plate and including an elastomeric ground engaging body portion and an elongated, threaded attachment element extending outwardly therefrom; first and second clamping portions for supporting said brake member with respect to said sole plate, said first clamping portion being integral with said sole plate, said second clamping portion being releasably secured to said first clamping portion, said clamping portions defining with respect to and rearwardly inclined threaded bore adapted to receive said attachment element threadedly therein, and securing means straddling said bore at opposite sides thereof and coacting with said clamping portions for urging said second clamping portion into gripping engagement with said attachment element.

said sole plate an upwardly 3. A roller skate construction comprising: a longitudinally extending sole plate of generally narrow width and having longitudinally spaced apart front and rear bracket portions integral therewith; a plurality of rollers; means for supporting said rollers by said bracket portions in limited pivotal relation thereto; a toe stop including an elastomeric ground engaging body and a threaded stud extending outwardly therefrom for reception in said sole plate, said sole plate at a forward part thereof having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined bore with an open side along the axial extent thereof; a clamping member fitting across said open side to form with said bore a generally closed circular area, and fastener means for said clamping member straddling said bore on opposite sides thereof to cooperate with said sole plate on opposite sides of said bore, when tightened, to reduce in size said circular area for holding by means of said stud said toe stop fixedly with respect to said sole plate.

4. The roller skate construction defined in claim 3 I wherein said bracket portions are interjoined by a solid central beam having a rectangular lateral cross section closely confined about the longitudinal centerline of said skate and possessing a modulus suflicient to preclude deflection of said plate during vigorous skating maneuvers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 466,582 Smith Jan. 5, 1892 1,603,529 Faust Oct. 19, 1926 2,430,533 Reich Nov. 11, 1947 2,502,153 Jack Mar. 28, 1950 2,510,722 Snyder June 8, 1950 2,631,209 Fortney Mar. 10, 1953 2,727,749 Fackler Dec. 20, 1955 2,941,812 Reynolds June 21, 1960 3,016,246 Ware Jan. 9, 1962 3,035,846 Asad May 22, 1962 

1. A ROLLER SKATE STRUCTURE COMPRISING: A SOLE PLATE ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO A SKATER''S SHOE; A PLURALITY OF ROLLERS CARRIED BY SAID SOLE PLATE; A BRAKE MEMBER ARRANGED FORWARDLY OF SAID SOLE PLATE AND INCLUDING AN ELASTOMERIC GROUND ENGAGING BODY PORTION AND AN ELONGATED, THREADED ATTACHMENT ELEMENT EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM; MEANS ON SAID SOLE PLATE TO SUPPORT SAID BRAKE MEMBER FOR SELECTIVE ADJUSTMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID SOLE PLATE, SAID MEANS DEFINING AN INTERALLY THREADED BORE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THREADEDLY SAID ATTACHMENT ELEMENT THEREIN; SAID MEANS INCLUDING A RELEASABLE CLAMPING PORTION CARRYING A RADIAL SEGMENT OF THE AXIAL EXTENT OF THE THREADED SIDEWALL OF SAID BORE; AND MEANS STRADDLING SAID BORE FOR ADVANCING SAID RELEASABLE CLAMPING PORTION INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ATTACHMENT ELEMENT TO GRIPPINGLY RESIST DISMOUNTING OF SAID BRAKE MEMBER. 